Parks and Golf Courses

Urban and suburban areas are spreading rapidly and wild spaces are quickly disappearing; golf courses, parks and other greenspaces are increasingly important to the vitality of our communities. At the most basic level, healthy parks mean healthy people and healthy communities. At the core of a healthy environment are pollinators-animals that move pollen among flowers, thus ensuring that the plants can form seeds and fruits.

Pollinator conservation is perfectly suited for parks and golf courses. The basic habitat needs for pollinator insects are simple to provide and can be integrated into the current maintenance of any greenspace.

A 3 step approach to conserving pollinators in parks and golf courses

Recognize the native pollinators and their habitat that are already on your site.

Resources

Pollinator-Friendly Parks. How to Enhance Parks, Gardens, and other Greenspaces for Native Pollinator Insects By Matthew Shepherd, Mace Vaughan, and Scott Hoffman Black In an increasingly urbanized nation, parks and greenspaces make a significant contribution to the vitality of local communities, including by offering a healthy environment. At the core of a healthy environment are Read more …

How to Create Habitat for Pollinator Insects on Golf Courses By Matthew Shepherd On golf courses across the country wildflowers bloom, birds nest, mammals feed, lizards bask, bats roost, and butterflies sip nectar. Given this diversity of wildlife, it is not surprising that golf courses are increasingly recognized for wildlife. As our landscapes change under Read more …

Making More Room. A Companion to Making Room for Native Pollinators: Oregon’s Butterflies, Local Plants, and Extra Resources By Matthew Shepherd, Mace Vaughan, and Scott Hoffman Black In an increasingly urbanized nation, golf courses give a welcome break from the hard surfaces of towns and cities. Golf courses are of growing importance in many communities, Read more …

Xerces’ most recent book, Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies, is available to purchase from our website. The book is published in 2011 by Storey Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts. Attracting Native Pollinators is coauthored by four Xerces Society staff members Eric Mader, Matthew Shepherd, Mace Vaughan, and Scott Black in collaboration with Gretchen LeBuhn, San Francisco State University. Read more.